Petro Poroshenko tells Ukrainian Supreme Court that state sanctions prevent private procurement of air defense systems

Petro Poroshenko argues at the Supreme Court that Ukrainian sanctions illegally block the purchase of air defense systems for his attacked ROSHEN facilities.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 6, 2026, 5:29 AM EST

Source: The information in this article was sourced from Interfax-Ukraine

Legal Challenge to National Security Decrees

Petro Poroshenko, a Ukrainian lawmaker and leader of the European Solidarity party, appeared before the Supreme Court to challenge the legality of sanctions imposed against him. During the hearing, Poroshenko argued that the restrictive measures serve as a direct obstacle to protecting people and commercial enterprises from Russian military operations. His legal representatives contended that the sanctions were applied illegally to a Ukrainian citizen currently residing within the country. They further stated that no legal grounds exist for such measures, noting that only Russia designates Poroshenko as a terrorist.

Impact of Sanctions on Defensive Procurement

The core of Poroshenko's testimony focused on government resolution 1506, which grants critically important enterprises the right to independently protect facilities and staff using air defense systems. Poroshenko highlighted paragraph seven of the resolution, which explicitly states that these provisions do not apply to legal entities or enterprises owned by individuals under sanction. He argued that this clause creates a situation where he is legally prohibited from purchasing air defense systems to safeguard his employees, claiming the government is effectively preventing sanctioned individuals from providing necessary protection against aerial threats.

Casualties and Infrastructure Damage

To illustrate the consequences of these restrictions, Poroshenko cited recent Russian attacks on his commercial assets. He testified that the ROSHEN Kyiv confectionery factory was struck by missiles and Shahed drones on January 24, resulting in fatalities. A subsequent attack on February 6 targeted the ROSHEN logistics center, leading to the death of a firefighter. Poroshenko noted that other firefighters remain in serious condition in intensive care following that incident. He emphasized that the inability to deploy private defensive measures has left these production facilities and the people working there vulnerable to continued strikes.